May 8-10, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/9/2024
Lot consists of: (A) Per an included copy of a factory letter, this Marlin Model 1889 shipped on April 15th, 1891. Fitted with a blued 24" round barrel chambered in .44-40, German silver blade front sight, semi-buckhorn rear, full-length magazine tube, plain walnut stocks, and a crescent rifle butt plate. Right side of frame engraved "Augusta Police / 58". The Augusta, Georgia annual report from 1891 includes a listing for May that 60 Marlin guns and ammunition were purchased from V.A. Hematreet & Bro. at a cost of $619. An additional entry from June lists a charge for engraving the guns for $20 from a Wm. Schweigert. Through the 1890s there are several other mentions of these rifles noting that they remain in good, serviceable condition. CONDITION: Very good overall. Barrel retains the vast majority of its faded factory blue, other components have largely faded to a brown patina. Engraving soft but legible. Stocks have been sanded and fit somewhat shy to mounts with some scattered marks. Strong bore with some black powder abrasion. (B) Scarce medium frame Merwin & Hulbert 3rd Model spur trigger .38 manufactured circa 1880s. Finished in nickel with 5 - 1/2" ribbed barrel, Hopkins & Allen address, half moon front sight, enclosed cylinder pin, 5-shot scoop fluted cylinder, loading gate, skull crusher bird's head frame, and 2-piece checkered hard rubber grips. Backstrap is engraved Augusta Police No. 21". An 1892 police commissioner report from Augusta, Georgia makes note that in addition to the new Marlin rifles the department possessed 50 Merwin & Hulbert revolvers "in good order." By 1893 police stocks list only "10 old Merwin & Hulbert pistols." CONDITION: Fair to good. Gun retains approximately half of its original nickel with areas of loss and some cleaned oxidation spots. Right grip has a significant loss, the left also split but intact. Strong, frosted bore with some black powder abrasion. Fine mechanics. Matching numbers observed on frame, barrel, and cylinder. This pair of guns very likely served alongside of each other well over 100 years ago, a rare opportunity to acquire a 19th century police long arm and pistol from the same department with research and documentation to boot.
Barrel Length
(A) 24" (B) 5 - 1/2"
Caliber/Bore
(A) .44-40 (B) .38 M&H
Manufacturer
(A) Marlin (B) Merwin & Hulbert
Serial Number
(A) 46059 (B) 3400